West Indies rode on maiden ODI hundreds from Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks as they beat the Netherlands by 20 runs in the 3rd and final ODI of their tour on Saturday, June 4. In Nicholas Pooran’s first stint as full-time captain, the tourists completed a clean sweep of the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
After chasing down the Dutch in the first two matches this week, the West Indies batted first and put up 308-5. The Netherlands had a decent go at the chase but came up 20 runs short.
Speaking after the series victory, West Indies captain Pooran, who replaced Kieron Pollard as the skipper, said he is happy with the way the revamped squad is shaping up but stressed that the former world champions will assess where they stand when they take on Pakistan in an upcoming tour.
“Very pleased with this new team, the first time as a captain. We go to Pakistan now and see where we stand. I want to see myself before as well but love the way the guys have performed with their opportunities, the two debutants performed well and the spinners have bowled well,” Pooran said.
Mayers scored 120 from 106 balls and Brooks reached his century in the last over, finishing on 101 not out off 115. They combined for 184 runs. They came together at 58-1 and were broken on 242-2 in the 41st over, when Mayers pulled straight to deep midwicket.
Mayers was the more aggressive, with seven sixes and eight boundaries. Brooks scored only 18 more runs after Mayers left, reducing his side’s chances of putting up 350.
In reply for the Netherlands, Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh opened with a 98-run stand in 18 overs, No. 3 Musa Ahmed added 42, and O’Dowd had the West Indies sweating until he was out in the 43rd over for 89 – 11 runs short of posting the Netherlands’ first-ever ODI century.
The dismissal of O’Dowd, bowled by left-arm spinner Akeal Hossain, activated a rapid slide. The Netherlands lost its last seven wickets for 49 runs. West Indies fast bowler Shermon Lewis, on debut, took the last three wickets in five balls, and medium-pacer Jayden Seales also took a wicket on debut. (With AP inputs).